Barcelona USA Inc.

The History

In 1999 we began our Club with 45 members.  Today there are over 4000 nationwide spread over several partner clubs collaborating within the Collaboration Program.

In 2001, PB FCBarcelona CA. was officially welcomed into the Barcelona family of official Penya's (Penya # 1471).  This was an historical event for FCB as it was their first ever U.S. based Penya in their then, 103 year history.  Our Club has always maintained close ties with the PB California.

In 2005, Barca hosted an inaugural ceremony at the Nou Camp headquarters in Barcelona that included the unveiling of PB California's Crest mounted on the stadium's wall of fame.  There were 60 of us who were fortunate to be a part of this event.

In 2007, we hosted Staff Members from Barca's Academy for one week, working and interacting with our kids and our coaches.  It was the first time representatives from Barca's Academy had observed our Club.

In 2008, we particpated in three major events with Barca's BOD. The first event occurred in New York, in July, as part of Barca's U.S. Summer Tour to the east coast, where we were treated to a social event with Barca's President, Joan Laporta, and his BOD.  The social gathering gave us the opportunity to begin developing an interactive relationship with Barca's Academy and our Soccer School.  At the second 2008 event, in October, we hosted President Laporta and his BOD at the L.A. Lakers training Center. We were acknowledged by the President for our efforts in representing Barca here in the U.S. and for our continued growth throughout the past 9 years.  The third and final event of 2008, in December, saw Barca hosting us for a week-long coaching course in Barcelona.  The eight of us that attended, were treated to everything related to the Barca system of play.  The course consisted of morning sessions of theory in the classroom, afternoon tecnical and tactical sessions on the pitch, and evening observation of the Academy's team training sessions.  We were treated like royalty by Barca's staff, and we had the good fortune to attend several 1st team games including "El Super Clasico" against Real Madrid.

In 2009, we hosted coaches from Barcelona (in Los Angeles) for an intense Coaching Course for one week. There were 50 of our coaches in attendance representing all of our Collaboration Partners.  Additionally, the visiting coaches ran our first Coaches Clininc / Camp where 120 priveledged kids particpated in the Camp.

And finally, in 2009, Barca's U.S. Summer Tour came rolling through L.A. where our Penya's Anniversary Event was published as one of their main calendar of events.  (Barca's Tour Calendar: http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada09-10/07/n090728107777.html)

The Tour brought several wonderful events including a sold out game against the L.A. Galaxy at the Rose Bowl, as well as our ten year Anniversary Celebration hosted by Barca's BOD at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. (Official FCB website article: www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/galeries/futbol/temporada09-10/07/gira_EUA/penyes/galeria.html).  Our Organizations VIP's and families were invited to attend this special night.  The event was presided over by Jacint Borras who has been a close friend since our inaugural ceremony in 2005.  After several wonderful speeches and gift exchanges, we were all treated to a photo and autograph session with the 1st team.

Unlike last year, Barca traveled to the west coast this year to promote their summer tour in Los Angeles, Seattle, and San Francisco.  For those of us who had the priveledge to attend the events in L.A., we were fortunate to participate in every event possible surrounding their five-day visit.

They arrived on Wed. aftenoon and that evening had their first official training session at UCLA.  From there, they had two-a-day sessions on Thurs and Friday, culminating with the game against the L.A. Galaxy Sat. night at the Rose Bowl.

Along with their soccer activities, the team made an appearance at the Montalban Theatre in Hollywood to help promote Nike's partnership with the L.A. 84 Foundation for kids.

For those of us who were fortunate to attend, we were all treated to a wonderful afternoon of Barca Mania.  The tail - gate party officially began around 2p and lasted way into the early morning hours.  The only break coming was during the two hour match.

Many people stopped by throughout the day including many of our Members, as well as old and new friends alike, along with many well-wishers.

We'd like to officially welcome the members of the Barcaloco.com into our family of Barca aficionados.  These folks truly have Barca in their hearts and we look forward to many years of collaboration.

Date: August 1, 2009
Time: 8p
Location: Rose Bowl
Attendance: 93,137
Final Score: Barca 2 - Galaxy 1

 

There were high expectations from all 50 coaches in attendance as to what they were about to be put through, and the Barcelona staff coaches didn't dissapoint.  Besides CA., three additional Partner Clubs (AZ, NY & TX) were able to send coaches out to spend the week with us. 

Headed by Jordi Vinyals, the weeklong course was of the utmost professionalism possible.  Other than a few translating issues that were resolved the first day, the course went off without a hitch.  By the time Friday rolled around, none of us wanted it to end.

We are also thankful to the US Soccer Federation for sending two representatives out to observe our Program, as we continue in the process of our Club being incorporated into the USSF's Academy League in the near future.

We look forward to our budding relationship with coach Jordi and staff for many more years to come as we develop our program under "The Barca Way."